Sahara
Short description
Dirk Pitt, a former Navy SEAL who now works for an agency that protects the oceans, heads into the deserts and coastal waters of West Africa with his friend Al Giordino to track down a long-lost Civil War ironclad rumored to be carrying a secret cargo. Their treasure hunt brings them into contact with Dr. Eva Rojas, a physician investigating a strange illness spreading through the region. As the two searches begin to overlap, the group faces a powerful conspiracy and the men behind it, who want their activities kept hidden. The film adapts the adventure novels by Clive Cussler and introduces his long-running hero to the screen.
Breck Eisner directed; his earlier credits include the 1996 film Recon and the 2003 film Thoughtcrimes, and he later made The Crazies and The Last Witch Hunter. The screenplay is by James V. Hart, Thomas Dean Donnelly and John C. Richards, with Stephanie Austin, Mace Neufeld and Howard Baldwin producing. Matthew McConaughey plays Dirk Pitt, Penélope Cruz plays Eva Rojas, and Steve Zahn, Lennie James, Lambert Wilson and William H. Macy also star.
Released in April 2005, the film cost about 130 million dollars to make and took in roughly 119 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds 6.1 out of 10 from around 109,000 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 5.9 out of 10 from far fewer voters. A critics' score of 5.3 out of 10 across 175 reviews places it below both audience ratings.
What's left behind the scenes
- The actors underwent training in camel riding, and had to gallop alongside a moving train for an hour and a half.
- A British factory, where engines for the 'Concorde' aircraft were tested, 'played' the role of a toxic waste processing plant.
- As work on the screenplay dragged on, fewer and fewer actors were willing to commit to the project, the launch of which remained constantly in doubt. For the same reason, director Rob Bowman left the project.
- When Dirk Pitt explains the story of the five gold dollars of the Confederacy, he says that Jefferson Davis ordered them to be minted in 1865 and gave four to his best generals: Robert E. Lee, “Stonewall” Jackson, “Jeb” Stuart, and Joseph Johnston (Pitt misspoke and called him Johnson). Jackson and Stuart died before 1865, so they could not have received these coins that year.
- Penélope Cruz was invited for the lead female role, although Cassler insisted on Salma Hayek.
- While promoting this film, Matthew McConaughey traveled across America in his trailer, which was decorated with the "Sahara" logo. During the trip, the actor lived in special parking areas and visited stadiums.
- The list of candidates for the lead role included Tom Cruise (who was rejected due to his height), George Clooney, Bruce Willis, and Sylvester Stallone. The novel's author, Clive Cussler, envisioned Hugh Jackman in the lead role, but he declined.
- Jefferson Davis did not consider the loss of Richmond the end of the Confederacy. Had the ship actually managed to escape with a cargo of gold on board, it would have been sent to another Confederate port, or even to Mexico, where their ally Maximilian I was in power at the time.
- Long before filming began, McConaughey traveled to Mali alone. His experience and the photographs he took proved useful during the shooting process.
- The film was directed by Breck Eisner, the son of former Disney studio head Michael Eisner.
- Filming took place from November 3, 2003, to April 2004.
- The film is based on Clive Cussler's novel "Sahara" (1992).
- Three and a half months of filming took place in Morocco, one month in Spain, and five weeks in London.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
